Roller bearing



Jan. 13, 1953 TH 2,625,450

ROLLER Fi l e d F e b 2 O l 9 5l Patented Jan. 13, 1953 PATENT GFFCE(Cl. 30S-213) 4 Claims.

This invention `relates to methods of yassembling machine parts such asroller bearings and more particularly to applications of this kindwherein permanent assembly of the parts is desired. For this purpose itis common practice to employ electric resistance welding processeswherein the metal pieces to be joined are held in pressure engagementwith each other and a heavy electric current passed through the jointwhereby the heat resulting from the resistance of `the joint issuflicient to bring the adjoining contacting metal up to weldingtemperature. Ii large contacting areas are to be joined it is commonpractice to provide one of the pieces with suitable projections tolocalize the current iow thereby increasing the current density toassist in the starting and progression of the welding process. Whilethis arrangement is effective in reducing the spattering of scale andmetal from the point or points of weld it is nevertheless true that somedegree of spattering does take place in lsubstantially all resistancewelding. This characteristic has, to some extent, restricted theapplication of the otherwise desirable resistance welding processes incertain assembly operations.

.In the construction of roller bearings, for example, it is recognizedthat substantialeconomies and vaniinproved product could be obtained ifthe flnal'reta'iner plate or ring of the bearing assembly wereprojection welded .to the outer race. However, this method has notbeenpractical heretofore because the bearing would be ruined by evenvery minute particles of scale or metal impinging on the load bearingareas of the assembly. My invention overcomes this difculty by providingan effective means operative, during vthe resistance welding cycle, toeffectively seal the rollers Yand contiguous race surfaces against theentry of spelter `resulting from the welding operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improvedarrangement Vfor effectively sealing off resistance welding flash duringthe assembling of machine parts which does not interfere with theresistance welding process and which Adoes not deter from the quality orusefulness of the finished product.

Cther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon/full consideration of the following detailed specification andaccompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a certain preferredembodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an axial section of roller Abearing parts constructedaccording to the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of certain of the bearingparts of Figure l showing the retaining ring in position to beresista-nce welded; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the bearing of Figure 1showing the retaining ring as assembled and welded.

.Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 denotes an innerrace of a radial type roller bearing which, in accordance with usualpractice, is hanged at Il and I2 to provide a retaining channel foranti-friction rollers I3. An outer race I4 is provided to enclose therollers i3, and, in the embodiment shown, an inwardly turned retaininglip I5 is provided at one of its edges, At the radially inward corner ofthe open edge of the outer or unchanneled race I!! I have provided anannular recess I6, the purpose of which will become apparent uponconsideration of the remainder of the specification.

In order to permanently retain the above described components in theirproperly assembled relation I provide a flanged retaining ring I 1which, as shown, has a depending boss IB which fits loosely inside theinner surface of the outer race I4. It will be noted that the insidediameter of the boss I8 is approximately equal to that of the inwardlyturned lip I5, so that, in effect, the assembled unit is quite similarto a desirable known type of bearing which is closed 'by rolling or dieforming.

Circumferentially spaced on the relatively thin outwardly extendingflange IS of the retaining ring I'I are a plurality of upsetindentations 20 which are pressed into the upper surface of the flangeI9 and which deform the said flange at those points to form downwardlydepending projections 2 I. As is shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, theapplication of suitable pressure and current between the retaining ringIl' and the outer race I4 will fuse the depending projection 2| into theimmediately surrounding area of the outer race I4. In order to supplythe necessary electrical pressure I provide a pair of electrodes 24 and25 which connect the secondary winding of a suitable welding transformer2E, which is in communication with a power source, not shown.

`Since it is highly desirable to maintain the axial dimension betweenthe roller retaining faces of lip I5 and'boss I8 within a specifiedtolerance. I provide an annular land 22 which projects downwardly fromthe bottom face of the ange I9. As may be observed from Figure 3, uponthe circumferentially spaced projections 2| becoming plastic, and uponsufficient pressure being applied by the electrodes 24 and 25 to forcethe retaining ring I7 and outer race I4 into intimate contact, theannular land 22 will insure positive and accurate positioning of the twoparts IT and Iii. It is of course necessary to remove the weldingcurrent at this time to avoid causing the land 22 to become plastic anddeform.

As may be understood, it is absolutely essential to prevent the passageof flash particles from the weld into the space between roller races I0and I4. For this purpose I have provided anf O ring 23 which may be ofsynthetic rubber or other equivalent resilient and non-conductingmaterial. The said O ring 23 is'adapted to fit snugly over the outervertical wall of the boss I8. The ring 23 is partially received in theannular recess IG when the retaining ring I7 is positioned in readinessfor the Welding operation. By this means any flash particles which maybe emitted during the weld are conned by the O ring and are thusprevented from entering the roller chamber between races IB and I4.Further, my invention provides that the O ring 23 be substantiallycompressed during the weld, as shown in Figure 3, so that a positive andpermanent seal is eected thereby.

It should further be noted that the O ring 23 is operative to preventcontact between the race I4 and the retaining ring I'I at any pointother than that desired, namely at the tips of the projections 2l. It isthereby insured that the full welding current will pass through theprojections 2I and provide eiective welds at those points.

Inasmuch as the scaling ring 23 is highly compressible the same iseffective to fully shield the rollers I3 and the surfaces which theycontact against any spattering of scale or metal during the whole of thewelding operation. The ring simply collapses as the welding progresses.Further, since the collapsed ring is in itself tightly sealed in therecess or pocket provided it can remain entrapped in the assembledstructure without danger of disintegrating and entering into the bearingarea.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved method ofassembling machine parts such as roller bearings, for example, whichfully accomplishes the objects initially set forth above. The inventionconsists primarily in the utilization of a deformable sealing ringcation of anti-friction bearings since it enables the retaining ring orplate to be economically yet rigidly and accurately secured to ahardened race by resistance welding whereby highquality bearings may beproduced at substantial less cost than has been heretofore possible.

The principles of the invention are equally applicable, however, inother specific assembling operations as, for example, in the closure ofunidirectional clutches and accordingly the herein described applicationof the principles of the invention should be considered as illustrativeonly and not in a limiting sense. Reference should therefore be had tothe appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an anti-friction bearing, an inner race member having an outwardlyextending flange at each end thereof, said flanges forming a guiding andretaining channel for rolling members, a plurality of rolling membersadapted to be rotatably retained and guided by said channel, a ringshaped outer race member having an inwardly extending flange at one end,the open end of said outer race member being adapted to slidably fd;over said inner race member and said rolling members in concentricrelation thereto; means to retain said races and members in assembledrelation comprising a retaining ring having an axially extending annularboss, said boss being adapted to t slidably into said outer race memberto thereby, in cooperation with said inwardly extending iiange, form achannel adapted to receive said rolling members, said retaining ringfurther having an outwardly extending ange welded to the open end ofsaid outer race member, said retaining ring further having an annularland extending from said flange and adapted to contact said outer racemember subsequent to the Welding operation to thereby positivelyposition said retaining ring and associated boss in predetermined axialrelationship with respect to said outer race member; and means toprevent passage of flash particles, emitted during the weldingoperation, into the said rollng-member-retaining channels, said meansincluding a resilient and non-conductive ring positioned on theperiphery of said boss and adapted to have contact with said outer racemember during all phases of the welding operation.

2. In an anti-friction bearing, inner and outer race members, one ofsaid members having a flange at each end, said flanges forming a channelfor rotatably retaining rolling members, a plurality of rolling membersadapted to be retained and guided by said channelled race member incooperation with said other or unchannelled race member, a retainingring having an axially extending annular boss, said boss adapted to actin cooperation with said unchannelled race member to provide means ofretaining said unchannelled race member against axial movement withrespect to said rolling members. a flange extending radially from saidretaining ring and welded to an end of said unchannelled race member,means on said ange operative to contact said unchannelled race membersubsequent to the welding operation to thereby provide positive axialpositioning of the said retaining ring with respect to the saidunchannelled race member, and means to prevent flash particles, beingemitted from the welding operation, from passing into the confiningchamber for said rolling members, said means comprising a resilient andnon-conducting ring adapted to be retained on the periphery of said bossand in contact with said unchannelled race member during all stages ofthe welding operation.

3. In an anti-friction bearing, concentric inner and outer race membersone of which has a ange at each axial end to form a channel forrotatably retaining rolling members, a plurality of rolling membersretained in said channel, the other of said race members having a angeat one axial end to restrain axial movement of said other race memberrelative to the said one of said race members in one direction, aretaining ring welded onto the other axial end of said other race memberand having an axially extending annular boss engaging said rollingmembers to thereby restrain axial movement of said other race member inthe opposite direction relative to said one of said race members, and aresilient deformable annular ring positioned radially between saidannular boss and the other of said race members in compressed conditionto seal the annular space occupied by said rolling members from thenterstice between the axial end of said other race member and said ring.

4. A bearing according to claim 3 further including an annular recess inthe said other of said race members to at least partially receiveREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,338,939 Laycock May 4, 19202,086,985 Mitchell July 13, 1937 2,184,939 Green Dec. 26, 1939 2,360,660Eaton et al Oct. 17, 1944

